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Rob Ellam

An isotope is a variant form of a chemical element, containing a different number of neutrons in its nucleus. Most elements exist as several isotopes. Many are stable, others are ...
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An isotope is a variant form of a chemical element, containing a different number of neutrons in its nucleus. Most elements exist as several isotopes. Many are stable, others are radioactive, and some may only exist fleetingly before decaying into other elements. The study of isotope ratios has become central to many areas of science, and used to probe the age and history of the Earth and the origins of the Solar System. Radioactive isotopes find wide applications, from nuclear power to medicine and carbon dating. Isotopes: A Very Short Introduction provides an overview of the nature of stable and radioactive isotopes, considering their wide range of modern applications.Less